Gamers warned to trade in old consoles now before GTA 6 launch
Concerns over framerates have left people warned that they could need to trade-in their old consoles and upgrade to a PlayStation 5 Pro ahead of Grand Theft Auto 6's launch, as it'll provide the best experience possible despite costing a lot of money.
Consoles have never been more expensive with PlayStation and Xbox both bucking the trend of reducing prices towards the end of a generation, and while AI hardware demands are definitely the primary reason for this, it wouldn't be surprising to find out that GTA 6 is also playing a role.
It's a game that almost every console owner has been waiting over a decade for at this point, and it feels as if the success of the industry as a whole hinges on it not only selling well but simply living up to the immeasurable expectations set by gamers.
Understandably many people are doing all they can to best prepare for that fabled day in November – including some soldiers engaging in an unfavorable exchange for time off at launch – but players have also been urged to trade in their old consoles in exchange for a PlayStation 5 Pro, as there's simply no better way to play the game.
Why is the PS5 Pro ideal for GTA 6?
Performance is critical when it comes to the latest games releasing, and Rockstar's flagship efforts have always pushed the limits of existing hardware — often only truly coming alive when the next generation hits the shelves.
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With the sheer scale of GTA 6's lengthy development cycle, it would make sense for this to be one of the most demanding games ever released, putting consoles released six years ago through their paces.
While nothing has been explicitly confirmed by Rockstar as of yet, most industry experts believe that the incredibly intensive CPU simulation demands of GTA 6 will result in a 30 frames per second cap on the base consoles, with only the hope of a performance mode lingering in the minds of PS5 and Xbox Series X owners.
Contrastingly, it's likely that the more-powerful PS5 Pro will feature a smoother frame rate – either through native 4K presentation or upscaled resolutions with ray tracing – taking advantage of PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) tech exclusive to the top-line console to achieve this.
What's the obsession over 60 frames per second?
While it's not the be-all-end-all for every game – and most PC gamers would also suggest that even 60fps is not enough – the higher frame rate is generally considered an industry standard due to the level of smoothness it provides when playing your favorite titles.
Frames per second is the measurement of how many times the game provides new information to the screen within the designated time frame, with higher fps numbers resulting in a smoother experience as updates are provided with faster frequency.
If you've ever played a game and wondered why it feels sluggish or choppy then there's a good chance that the frame rate is at fault, and its especially painful when playing in a first-person perspective as perspective shifts are faster and more dramatic.
30fps on base consoles will be perfectly fine for some gamers – especially if they keep to a third-person perspective while playing – but many will want the enhanced smoothness that comes with a higher frame rate, and it'll undoubtedly provide the best way of playing the game at launch.
Should Xbox and PC players also switch over?
The upgrade path from PS5 to PS5 Pro makes sense as its as simple as swapping out your old console for an improved version, but the consideration is a little more complicated for Xbox and PC players.
Xbox has never released a console that's more powerful than the Series X, and while its flagship device is slightly better than the PS5, it likely still won't provide enough power to run GTA 6 in the best conditions.
Swapping over to a PS5 Pro could be a good trade if you've got the money and are incredibly excited for GTA 6, yet you also have to consider the fact that you'll lose all of your account history and existing game library when making the switch.
It makes less sense for PC players, however, despite not being able to play the game at launch as, in typical Rockstar fashion, it remains a console exclusive for the foreseeable future.
Nothing has been confirmed by the developer, but it would be incredibly silly for Rockstar to forgo a PC release altogether, so only double dip on a PS5 Pro if you simply cannot wait for the game to come to your preferred platform in a year or two.
Where can you trade in your PS5 for a PS5 Pro?
You've got plenty of options for trading in your PS5 and getting a new PS5 Pro, taking the price down considerably ahead of GTA 6's release.
In the UK, Sony's 'Trade In & Trade Up' program is a particularly great option for getting a PS5 Pro, as you can get as much as £287 for a standard PS5 model towards the upgraded console, and you can even exchange older PlayStation tech all the way back to a PS1 for a little extra off the total.
You can also get an extra £50 off the purchase of a PS5 or PS5 Pro console through the trade-in program, extending that value even further and making it a better deal overall.
High street stores like CEX or Currys also offer trade-in services with some incentives for in-store credit towards a PS5 Pro, or you can also opt for online tech buyers like Music Magpie or Gadget GoGo for another option outside of simply selling it on eBay or Facebook marketplace.
For gamers in the United States, you'll want to head to retail stores like GameStop or online services like BackMarket or ItsWorthMore for your trade-in options — and hopefully you've also taken advantage of a recent GameStop deal to refresh your controller too.
GameStop specifically are offering up to $290 in store credit for a base PS5 depending on the condition, and up to $203 if you wanted to take the cash and use it elsewhere if you spot a better deal.